EDF Energy disciplinary and pay row deepens as strike ...

EDF Energy disciplinary and pay row deepens as strike vote opens

03 December 2014

Over 500 EDF energy workers began voting in an industrial action ballot today (Wednesday 3 December) as a row over pay and spurious disciplinary cases deepens, following confirmation of the sacking of a driver who allegedly ate a ‘Dairylea Dunker’ while driving.

The workers, members of Britain’s largest union, Unite, working in EDF’s meter reading section across London, the south east, south west and eastern England, have grown fearful as the number of sackings and warnings on the flimsiest of evidence increases.

Anger has also mounted over a two per cent pay offer which workers feel does little to address real term pay cuts of previous years and a continued squeeze in living standards.

The ballot for strike action and action short of a strike runs from 3-17 December. It follows EDF’s dismissal of an appeal by the sacked driver.

Unite regional officer Onay Kasab said: “We had hoped that EDF would see sense and step back from this trumped up sacking.

“Instead EDF is sticking to a pattern of attacking workers, where so called allegations which a year ago would have gone nowhere, now lead to people losing jobs.

“Members have had enough of this climate of fear which is being compounded by a pay offer that does nothing to alleviate years of real terms pay cuts and the continued squeeze in living standards.

“Feelings are running high and unless management get around the negotiating table and talk meaningfully, there is every prospect that they will have strike on their hands.”

ENDS

For further information please contact Unite head of media and campaigns Alex Flynn on 020 3371 2066 or 07967 665869.

Notes to editors:

Unite is Britain and Ireland’s largest trade union with over 1.4 million members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Len McCluskey.